A small representation of a flag sewn or otherwise fixed onto an item of clothing,
usually but not invariably on the upper sleeve, and often used by military personnel
– a shoulder patch.

FLAG PATRON

In largely Central European usage, a term for that person who provided funding for the production
of a ceremonial flag, or is otherwise being honoured by the organization whose flag it is –
but see ‘consecration’ with its following note (also
‘ceremonial flag 1)’).

1) A single illustration or series of illustrations (almost invariably coloured)
on a single page (or pages) which is printed separately (for reasons of production
cost) and inserted into an otherwise completed book of textual information (see also
‘flag book’ and ‘flag chart’).

2) A term that may be used to describe those rigid plates that may replace the equivalent
signal flags in some European regulations for inland navigation (see also
‘signal flags’).

Please note however, that the terms flag staff,
flag mast and flagpole may be considered as interchangeable, but that mast and
staff when used alone have specific meanings (see also
‘mast 1)’, staff 1) and ‘staff 2)’).

FLAG PROPOSAL

The term which covers any flag suggested as an alternative to a design currently used,
or one of those designs from which the choice of a new flag is to be made, or for a design
that has been so proposed in the past but never accepted, (see also
‘ausflag’ and
‘flag design competition’).

Proposal for a New Flag of Minnesota, 2002, USA (fotw);
Rejected Change to the National Flag of Australia, 1997 (fotw);
Rejected Design for the National Flag of The Bahamas, 1973 (fotw);
Rejected Change to the National Flag ofCyprus, 2004 (fotw)

A term for the occasional practice of creating (or illustrating) a sail in the form of an appropriate national
(or possibly provincial) flag or ensign (see also ‘armorial sail’).

The National Flag of Canada as a square sail (Željko Heimer)

Please note that this term has been introduced by the Editors as no established
alternative could be found.

FLAG SALUTE

1) An oath of allegiance through a ceremony involving the national flag –
flag pledge. Flag salutes are required of military personnel in most countries,
but when done by civilians, it is usually (but not invariably) out of custom.

2) A term also sometimes used to indicate a salute made with a flag – as in
for example - a merchant vessel dipping its flag to a warship (see also
‘dipping’).

Flag Sling/Belt According to Spanish Regulations (Reglamento de Banderas Actualizado)

FLAG SPREADER

In largely (but not exclusively) US usage a metal implement designed to ensure
that an indoor flag is properly displayed when hung from a vertical, freestanding
pole (see also
indoor flag and
tangle rod).

A term used when one or more of the main charges on a flag (usually but not invariably
part of a coat of arms or emblem) include the depiction of another flag or flags forming
an integral part of the design - a flag-on-flag (see also ‘coat of arms 1)’ and
‘emblem’).

From left: National Flag and Arms of Ecuador (fotw); National
Flag and Arms of Haiti (fotw); National Flag of South Africa 1928 – 1994 (fotw)

Please note that this category does not include those flags
or ensigns whose canton consists of another flag (such as the British or Indian red
ensigns) and for which the term canton flags should be used (see
‘canton flag’).

FLAG-TOSSING (THROWING or TWIRLING)

A sport and folk custom, particularly of Italy and Switzerland, in which flags
are twirled and tossed in the air – a survival and extension of the standard 17th
Century military practice of postures (see also
‘palio’ and
‘postures’).

Please note that an (as far is known) unrelated local ceremony of
flourishing flags, called casting the colours, occurs annually in Selkirk, Scotland.

FLAG-WAVING

Use of the national flag, literally or figuratively to justify actions or
principles, or to excite patriotic fervour.

Please note that the Editors consider this term too generic to be useful, and that the more precise descriptions
given above are to be preferred in description.

FLAGOID

A recently coined, term which is used to describe the illustration of a flag, or of a
flag-like object, which is not intended to represent any flag in actual use, but which has
the backing of some credible source and/or which employs a widely recognized emblem as part
of its design – but see ‘fictional flag’ and
‘fictitious flag’. For example the official coat of arms of the
Mexican province of Hidalgo includes the national flag of Mexico and a flagoid (a non-existent
blue rectangular version of the Guadeloupe processional banner known to have been in use c1810).